Hearing Set for Thursday for Punxsy Man Busted Selling Stolen Gun

PUNXSUTAWNEY BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – A Punxsutawney man is facing a hearing on Thursday on felony charges after being caught attempting to sell a stolen gun.

Court documents indicate 21-year-old Drew Patrick Maines, of Punxsutawney, is scheduled to stand for a preliminary hearing in front of Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 5, on one second degree felony count of receiving stolen property.

The charge stems from an incident that initially occurred in Green Township, Indiana County in September.

According to a criminal complaint, on September 10, a burglary was reported at a residence in Green Township during which a Palmetto State Armory Ar-15, a Vortex Strike Eagle Scope, a green 12 gauge Mossberg 500 shotgun with a skull design on it, and a 20 gauge Mossberg shotgun with a light brown wooden stock were taken.

According to the complaint, during the course of the investigation, 20-year-old Brandon Henry Wolfe became a suspect and was ultimately arrested for the burglary.

Wolfe was then interviewed by police. During the interview, Wolfe allegedly admitted to entering the Green Township residence on two separate occasions, during which he took the guns.

The complaint notes Wolfe told police during the first entry, he took the Palmetto AR-15 and took it to Punxsutawney, where he traded it to Drew Patrick Maines for a “ball” of methamphetamine. He went on to report that after he went back and took the other guns, he also transported them to Maines for an additional two and a half “balls” of methamphetamine.

According to the complaint, in a second, later interview, Wolfe told police Maines was known to sell drugs at a residence on Cherry Street in Punxsutawney Borough, and stated that the last time he spoke to Maines, he was under the impression that Maines was still in possession of the guns.

On October 26, a confidential informant was utilized and was able to confirm that Maines still had possession of at least the AR-15 rifle and was interested in selling it, according to the complaint.

An undercover trooper from the Punxsutawney-based State Police then arranged, via text messages and phone calls with Maines, a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from him. During the purchase, the trooper also made arrangements to purchase the riffle.

According to the complaint, after communicating via text message to arrange a time and place to purchase the rifle, the undercover trooper arrived at the Cherry Street residence and purchased the rifle from Maines. The complaint notes Maines also included in the purchase two Palmetto State Armory magazines that were fully loaded with live .223 rounds and approximately 279 additional live .223 rounds.

Maines was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock at 9:03 p.m. on Friday, November 15, on the following charges:

– Receiving Stolen Property, Felony 2

Unable to post $100,000.00 (10%) monetary bail, he remains lodged in the Jefferson County Jail.

Court documents indicate Wolfe was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Christopher S. Welch at 9:00 a.m. on October 31, on the following charges:

– Burglary – Overnight Accommodation, No Person Present, Felony 1 (two counts)
– Theft By Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Felony 2 (three counts)
– Receiving Stolen Property, Felony 2 (three counts)

Unable to post $25,000.00 monetary bail, he remains lodged in the Indiana County Jail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11:20 a.m. on Monday, December 9, with Judge Welch presiding.


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